Short-Term Rental Management in Durham and Newmarket, NH

Our Coverage: Durham, and Newmarket by Address

Durham is in Strafford County, one of our six New Hampshire counties, so we cover the Durham side. Newmarket is in Rockingham County, outside those counties; if your home is in Newmarket, send us the address and we will confirm whether we can serve it. Either way, every home must be within 45 minutes of its crew's base.

Why Guests Come to Durham

• The University of New Hampshire. UNH is in Durham, and its calendar drives demand: late-summer move-in, parents' visits, admissions tours and reunions.
• Commencement. UNH holds its Durham commencement ceremonies at the Whittemore Center; in 2026 they took place on Saturday, May 16, with shuttles and heavy traffic around campus.
• Football and hockey. Wildcat Stadium seats 11,015 for UNH football, soccer, lacrosse and track. Winter weekends center on hockey.
• The Downeaster. Amtrak's Downeaster serves Durham-UNH station with five round trips a day, linking Durham to Boston's North Station and to Portland, Freeport and Brunswick, Maine.
• Great Bay and the rivers. Durham fronts Great Bay, Little Bay and the Oyster and Lamprey rivers, a draw in the warm months for guests who want time on the water.
• Old town character. Settled as Oyster River Plantation and renamed Durham in 1732, the town keeps a compact downtown on Main Street and Route 108.

The Durham Rental Year

Durham runs on the academic calendar more than the weather. The busiest stretches are late August into September (move-in and the first football weekends), October (more football and foliage) and May (finals and commencement). Winter brings hockey weekends and visiting faculty, and summer is quieter on campus but busy on the water and along the coast. Monthly furnished stays for visiting researchers and staff can fill the gaps; see mid-term rentals in New England.

Short-Term Rental Rules in Durham

Durham regulates short-term rentals by name. Under its Zoning Ordinance (the April 20, 2026 edition, Chapter 175), as of October 2026:

• Definition. A short-term rental is "an accessory use to an owner-occupied single-family residence containing, in addition to living accommodations for the owner and the owner's family, not more than 3 sleeping rooms," offered for compensation for less than thirty consecutive days.
• Owner on site. Section 175-109(M) requires the property to be the owner's primary residence, and the owner or a family member must be on the premises overnight each night while the property is rented. A whole house rented while the owner lives elsewhere does not fit.
• Permit first. A short-term rental may not start until the Zoning Administrator issues a permit to operate, after review for Building, Fire and Life Safety Code compliance. Site plan review is not required.
• Districts. The Table of Uses allows short-term rentals by special exception in the Rural, Residence A, B and C districts and in the three office-research districts; permits them in Central Business 1 and 2, Professional Office, Church Hill, Courthouse and Coe's Corner; and does not allow them in the Durham Business Park. A special exception hearing notifies lots within 300 feet, and the ZBA may add conditions.
• Signs and campers. One non-illuminated sign of up to 2 square feet is allowed, and no RV, trailer or tent may be used by renters.

Whom to call: Durham's Planning office and Zoning Administrator share 603-868-8064 at 8 Newmarket Road.

Newmarket has its own zoning ordinance; we did not review it for this page, so ask Newmarket's planning office before you list.

Statewide, every operator needs a New Hampshire Meals and Rooms license and collects the 8.5% rooms tax on stays under 185 consecutive days; see the New Hampshire rooms tax page.

Running a Rental in Durham

• No overnight street parking all winter. From November 1 to April 1, no vehicle may park on any Durham road or town-owned lot between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m., in any weather, with no exceptions. Posted downtown spots carry a 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. ban all year. Guests need a driveway space, every night.
• Shoreland lots. Durham measures shore frontage on Great Bay, the Oyster and Lamprey rivers and other tidal waters, and state shoreland rules apply near the water. Check before adding parking or structures.
• Set big weekends early. Load commencement and football dates into your calendar, with minimum stays and rates, as soon as UNH publishes them.

How New England Host Co Works in Durham

Because Durham's ordinance requires the owner to be on site, our work here suits owners who live in the home and rent up to three rooms, or who rent for 30 nights or more. We handle listing creation, photography, daily PriceLabs pricing, guest messaging, and housekeeping with an inspection after every stay; co-hosting is available instead. See full-service management, the Seacoast region, the New Hampshire overview, or contact us.

FAQ

Can I Rent My Whole Durham House on Airbnb?

Not as a short-term rental if you live elsewhere. Durham's ordinance requires an owner-occupied primary residence with the owner or family on the premises overnight, and caps it at three sleeping rooms.

Do I Need a Permit to Host in Durham?

Yes. A permit to operate from the Zoning Administrator, plus a special exception in the residential districts. Call 603-868-8064.

Where Do Guests Park in Winter?

In your driveway. Durham bans parking on town roads and lots from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m., November 1 through April 1, regardless of weather.

Does New England Host Co Cover Newmarket?

Newmarket is in Rockingham County, outside our New Hampshire counties. Send us the address and we will confirm.